Moving is not always as easy as it seems. From the time the decision is made to move chaos and stress becomes the norm. Not to mention you will have to start paying for things that are not normally part of your budget. Before making the move, you will want to budget out your expenses, so you know what to expect financially. Here are some ways that you can keep the cost of moving down to a manageable level.
Ways to Keep Your Moving Costs Down
- Thin your stuff out before moving. If you know that you are not going to need certain items, then go ahead and get rid the items. You will save space on the truck and save money on packaging material.
- Sell unwanted or large furniture pieces. There is a good chance that your old sectional couch that you bought for your home will not fit in your new home. Consider selling the sectional and use the money towards buying something that will work in your new space.
- Ask for boxes from friends and local businesses. The cost of buying boxes can be extremely high. Boxes that are new or used will serve the same purpose, but free is always better.
- Minimize the use of packaging material. Instead of buying bubble wrap and paper to wrap breakables in, try using your towels and bedding instead. You can even use your own clothing to wrap up the smaller items.
- Consider the cost of a moving company versus moving yourself. Depending on the deal moving by yourself might be cheaper. Some moving companies are competitive and can actually be cheaper than moving yourself. You may also want to consider renting the moving blankets and moving carts instead of buying them yourself.
- Deduct your moving expenses. Most moves happen because of a job change. It is possible to deduct certain expenses of your move if they are business related. Check with a tax professional to find out which expenses you can deduct.
- Come up with a budget and stick to it. If the move is going to take several days, it would be a good idea to know how many nights in a motel you will have and how many meals you plan on eating out. Calculate these figures into your budget. It would also be a good idea to leave some room in the budget for incidentals that may come up.
Conclusion
Moving across the country does not have to break your budget. By taking a few steps to minimize costs, you can actually move and still have money left over when you arrive.
Take the time and perform the research regarding the costs of movers, lodging, meals, gas prices, and even tolls. You can develop a clear cost of moving and be able to plan accordingly so your move is not as stressful as it can be.